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Fox News co-host Greg Gutfeld recently directed sharp criticism at rapper Macklemore, following the artist’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour after his “Free Palestine” statements.
On the September 17 episode of Fox News’ The Five, the 62-year-old commentator addressed remarks made by left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who had compared the United States to al-Qaeda, claiming that America causes more terrorism globally than the notorious terror group behind the 9/11 attacks. Gutfeld dismissed this viewpoint, arguing that a large nation like the U.S. will, by sheer scale, inflict more casualties in responding to terrorist acts.
He further condemned Hamas for embedding their operations and tunnel networks within civilian populations, accusing them of exploiting this tactic to falsely claim genocide. Gutfeld took aim at supporters of Palestine, including Macklemore, accusing them of unwittingly-or deliberately-advancing Hamas’s agenda. “I don’t know why these guys call themselves progressives when their ideas never progress,” he said, labeling such views as stagnant and destructive.
Gutfeld elaborated that the ideology behind equating all actions as morally equivalent-whether police conduct or immigration enforcement-is a form of subversion lacking any coherent system, aimed solely at dismantling existing structures. He concluded that figures like Macklemore amplify Hamas’s narrative, and criticized Democrats for enabling such perspectives within their base.
In response to Piker’s claim, “Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes,” the streamer acknowledged on The Axios Show that the U.S. has caused significant terror worldwide.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, had been scheduled to open for Ed Sheeran on eight of the remaining ten dates of his Loop Tour in the United States. However, on September 14, promoters announced that several venues refused to allow Macklemore to perform, resulting in his removal from the tour.
This decision followed Macklemore’s public expressions of solidarity with Palestinians during Sheeran’s September 4 and 5 concerts at MetLife Stadium, where he called for a “Free Palestine.” In a detailed Instagram statement, Macklemore confirmed the tour split, emphasizing that neither he nor Sheeran or singer Pink (who also criticized Macklemore’s statements) were victims, but rather individuals with careers and platforms.
He highlighted the true victims as Palestinian civilians enduring death, displacement, and violence, citing the tragic loss of over 20,000 children in Gaza alone. Macklemore described his conversations with Sheeran as difficult but respectful, ending in a fundamental disagreement. He stressed that his public statement was not intended to harm Sheeran personally, but to maintain his responsibility to speak his truth.
Following Macklemore’s departure, Irish singer Aaron Rowe withdrew from Sheeran’s Loop Tour, along with the band Beoga and artist Finneas, who announced their decisions via Instagram. Rowe had been brought in as one of Macklemore’s replacements for the remaining U.S. dates. Beoga, Sheeran’s touring band, and Finneas, slated for the South American leg, also stepped back, signaling continued fallout from the controversy.